Representatives of the firm White Kennedy Chartered Accountants presented council with the 2010 village financial statements at the May 16 regular council meeting.
Village auditor, Michael Doherty told council that the village books looked good, noting that there were “no problems, things are moving upwards financially - there are no red flags.”
Responding to questions from Mayor Walter Despot, Doherty commented that the village’s finances were making “slow progress in an upward direction.”
Council discussed a resolution to adopt a policy relating to boulevard improvements in the village. The policy is intended to provide direction to village staff regarding requests from property owners to improve adjacent boulevards.
After some discussion, council moved forward with the recommendation, with modifications. Criteria outlining recourse action for requests that are denied will be added to the policy.
Council also revisited a list of priorities put forward for the Regionally Significant Gas Tax Fund initiative in 2010.
Gas Tax grants are provided to municipalities and regional governments for specific uses. Ideas for the funds are submitted to the regional CAO committee who then rates all of the projects submitted to ensure they meet project criteria. Projects must lead towards reduced greenhouse gas emissions, must be larger in scale or regional in impact, and they must produce “strong” outcomes.
Council discussed the list of projects to which they were hoping to apply gas tax funding. One of those, the relocation of water mains at Seventh Avenue to the alleys between Fourth and Seventh Streets, was deemed as unlikely to be considered eligible.
It was eventually decided that the following projects would be submitted, with funding requests listed:
- Funding for the Keremeos Irrigation District’s water reservoir project ($200,000).
- Upgrades to Victory Hall that reduce water and electricity consumption ($30,000).
- Upgrades of street lighting to solar lighting ($100,000).
Council also agreed to enter into a License to Occupy agreement with the BC Transportation Authority over use of former railway lands by the village. The southery fenced portion of the Public Works yard is owned by the BCTFA and is currently in use by the village for the storage of equipment, materials, and supplies. A license to occupy the land in agreement form has never been entered into with the authority. The agreement will cost the village one dollar over a 20 year term.